Page 143 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

Heritage & Culture
Many place names on the Central Coast
remain from Native American tribes, as well
as Spanish and Mexican settlers. The Cali-
fornia missions and other well-preserved
buildings still remain from pre-statehood Cal-
ifornia. The Central Coast’s inland region has
a wealth of land for agriculture—from wine to
olives—but farmers here are just as comfort-
able taking a quick trip to the wide, sandy
beaches during breaks from the harvest. Even
though Santa Barbara is the big city in the area,
it has a relaxing vibe that would suffocate in a
second in downtown Los Angeles.
DRIVE
»
TOUR
Get more than a glimpse of
the Central Coast by driving
south of Big Sur on
Highway 1 past the small
beach towns of CAMBRIA,
MORRO BAY and PISMO
BEACH. Be sure to stop
regularly to sample local
delicacies, whether caught
from oceanside piers or
made by hand in beach-
town bakeries. The highway
cuts inland for a short jog
after San Luis Obispo, but
pops back to the beach
before approaching the
Santa Ynez Mountains and
posh SANTA BARBARA.
Family Fun
The Central Coast is rich with adventure for
families, including plenty of beaches and out-
door space, historic sites and water activities.
View underwater life on a semi-submersible
tour in Morro Bay. Discover how the ocean has
shaped the history of the Central Coast at the
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Go camping
in the Channel Islands or Los Padres National
Forest. Even picking your own berries at a
local farm is far more fun when you can smell
the ocean air.
VINTAGE WINE PRESSES in Paso Robles,
below; beach on San Miguel Island,
Channel Islands National Park, right.
2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 141